Trillanes says still no access to Duterte’s bank records

Despite President Duterte’s order for the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) to release the records of his bank accounts, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV claimed he was still denied access to these documents.

Trillanes showed a letter from the AMLC dated March 29 and signed by its officerin-charge Mel Georgie Racela.

Trillanes said his request for the release of all flagged/ reported transactions of President Duterte was denied.

“We regret to inform that your request, which necessarily includes transactions on President Duterte’s bank accounts, is not allowed under Republic Act 1405 or the Bank Deposit Secrecy Law,” Racela said in his letter to Trillanes.

The AMLC informed Trillanes that it had no reason to conduct a bank inquiry in the case of the President because the exceptions provided for under the AntiMoney Laundering Act for the conduct of such inquiry such as the investigation of an unlawful activity or a money- laundering offense and existence of probable cause were not present.

It added an order from the Court of Appeals is needed before any bank inquiry could be conducted by the AMLC.

“Absent the foregoing circumstances, the AMLC has neither the power nor authority to conduct bank inquiry,” Racela said.

“Without an authorized bank inquiry, the AMLC is in no position to have in its possession the bank records of, or to disclose, the bank transactions of anyone,” he added.

With this response to his request by the AMLC, Trillanes said the President was again lying when he said he would open his bank records for public scrutiny.

“You can see here that Duterte is again lying and hiding behind technicalities so that the P2 billion that he stole from the government coffers will not be revealed,” he said.

Trillanes said the continued refusal by the President to open his bank records would only cast doubts on his sincerity in going after corruption.

He reiterated his challenge for the President to sign a waiver on the secrecy of bank deposits in order to settle the matter once and for all.

“Sign the waiver. Stop the drama and sign the waiver so that the people will know what is the truth,” Trillanes said.

If proven wrong, Trillanes said he would immediately resign as a senator and voluntarily walk in to any detention facility of the President’s choice.

“If he wants to get rid of me this is the easiest way to do it. So do it now,” he said.